Posted on 11/21/2016 6:47:40 AM PST by spintreebob
Over the past year, many people have asked what I’ll do after the election. It’s reasonable to assume my public service is connected to my personal politics. But I don’t see it that way.
For one, my politics have changed quite a bit after serving in the federal government for 6 years. They haven’t shifted across the simple “left-right” spectrum that does the complexity of our country such a disservice.
Instead, while my expectation of what government both can and should do is much more conservative than before, I’ve never been more optimistic that for those things we can do, we can build services that are effective, efficient, open, humane, participatory, and even delightful, at costs lower than ever before. Politicians may (and will) disagree passionately on what government should do. But they all say that for whatever the government does, we should do it well. My oath to this country was not to a particular office, or person, and certainly not to a political party. It was to the Constitution and to the people (emphasis added)
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…
That’s why I believe that no matter the result of the presidential election, I have to stay. People have to see that the work 18F, the United States Digital Service, and so many other people who have recently signed up for public service, continues. That’s notwithstanding the huge numbers of public servants who have been laboring to do the right thing all along, and have not been given the tools they need to succeed and serve.
This movement is not bound to the current administration. It is not an ideological movement meant to serve a particular President’s agenda, or even a particular Congress’ agenda.
This isn’t just about technology. It’s about whether any of the systems that govern our society can be made to work, or deserve our trust.
Let’s find out.
[Views above are exclusively my own]
This person is both articulate and sincere, but I have no idea who they are.
“people who have recently signed up for public service,”
Signing up for Obamacare could be viewed as signing up for “public service” but it depends on who’s doing the viewing.
“many other people who have recently signed up for public service,”
It’s easy to be real patriotic when you’re getting paid double what your worth, exempted from the rules (Obamacare) and can retire 10 years earlier (55) than those citizens you allegedly “serve”.
The term “public service” is offensive.
Fedgov workers all need their salaries cut in half, be forced onto Obamacare Bronze, and all pensions be rolled into the “social security trust fund” where those you “serve” can access it.
For people in technology or some other area of government where it is less ideological, I can see this guy and his attitude. It will be different in other areas, say health care or some other ideologically driven area.
I’d think the poor man is bone-weary after all those years trying to swim upstream.
“...but I have no idea who they are.”
**************************************************
They are “a startup at the White House”... the OBAMA WHITE HOUSE.
I wonder who the Obamaites staffed this bureaucracy with?
www.usds.gov
Has anyone (except the very rich) ever talked to a “public servant” and felt they were dealing with their servant?
I’m now in healthcare IT (Medicaid). It is very political both ideologically political and game playing political.
Slavitt, the regulation writer at CMS (of HHS) publicly stated last summer that before Jan 20,2017 his goal was to create a massive number of new rules and regulations to regulate insurance companies, hospitals, doctors and other providers, IT contractors, drug companies ... and yes, you and me.
He is an ideolog and bureaucrat who has worked hard and is keeping his promise. His regulations alone are in the many thousands of pages. Many are very IT specific. Others are very Doctor specific.
Since taking his job, Slavitt has turned doctors into Data Entry Clerks who have no time to examine or talk with patients.
Much of the technology he imposes on IT is very 1990s with no appreciation for the rapid changes in both hardware and software.
Good article. Last chapter has yet to be written. Slavitt is doing enough every day for a chapter per day. Can’t sat he’s a slacker.
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